News
Leap of faith for daredevil mum and daughter with charity skydive
A MUM and daughter are taking a leap of faith with skydive from 10,000 feet in aid of a dementia charity that’s close to their hearts.
Mum-of-three and grandmother-of-10 Paula Simpson, 56, a senior care practitioner at the Pendine Park care organisation in Wrexham and her eldest daughter, Carla Griffiths, 37, will raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society.
According to Paul, she was determined to jump into action because her beloved mum, Ann Evans, has dementia.
Poignantly, she is now a resident at the Hillbury care home which is part of Pendine Park where Paula works, as does granddaughter Leah, 19.
She said: “It really has been a tough few years. We lost my dad in June 2019 and mum slowly deteriorated following that. I am also looking after my husband, Paul, who can no longer work after a double stroke, so you could say that I am a full time carer in more ways than one.”
“It’s been hard but we are getting through and I have had so much support from my colleagues at work throughout all the bad times. They have been my salvation, so understanding and helping to keep me strong.
“In one way doing the sky dive is about keeping my strength up and giving me something else to focus on other than our own troubles.
“If I am feeling down I always think to myself that there is someone else worse off. So, if we can raise much needed funds to help others facing crises then it will be well worth it.”
Paula has set an initial fund-raising target of £450 but is hoping they may be able to raise more than that.
She said: “I know money is tight these days and people are facing ever increasing costs which is why I am asking that they give as little or as much as they can afford. Even a sponsorship of £1 works for me. Every donation no matter how small adds to the overall target which is to boost research into dementia.”
It was daughter Carla who booked their sky dive at a top-flight centre in Whitchurch.
Paula said: “It came as a complete surprise to me. She just turned up one day and said ‘right mum I’ve booked us both on a sky dive’. I couldn’t believe it, but I immediately said, yes let’s do it.”
“I decided there and then that I had to be 100 per cent positive. I thought I’m getting too old to say no to these sorts of adventures, if I don’t do it now I never will.
“It’s completely crazy. Neither of us can even drive but we’re determined we’re going to jump out of that plane and raise as much as we can for a good cause.”
The intrepid pair have never done anything so challenging before but they both say they are exhilarated by the thought and now cannot wait for the big day to arrive.
Paula added: “As mum’s condition worsened it became impossible to keep her safe at home so we took the decision that she should go to Hillbury. The team there are so good with her, and I get to see her as often as possible.
“I think having been a carer myself has helped me better understand mum’s condition, but it is still hard no matter how much experience you have in the sector, having a loved one succumb to dementia is always a heart-breaking and distressing experience.
“That is why we wanted to do something to contribute to the efforts to boost research. The more knowledge there is the sooner we will be able to find more effective treatments.”
Paula and Carla are hoping some family members may be able to make it to the airfield to watch them sky dive.
She said: “We don’t know exactly who will be able to get there yet, but I’m sure some family and friends are hoping to make it on the day.”
Because they don’t drive the twosome are aiming to stay at a hotel overnight local to Whitchurch in readiness to be at the airfield at their appointed time of 8.30am.
“It’s an early start but we’re determined to enjoy every minute of it,” said Paula, who lives in Gwersyllt.
Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: “I take my hat off to Paula and Carla for channelling their inner daredevil to raise money for this important dementia charity.
“It is a cause close to all our hearts at Pendine but it’s particularly poignant for Paula because her mum has dementia and is a resident of our Hillbury care home.
“We wish them all the very best with the skydive and the fundraising.”
Caption: Pendine Park; senior carer Paula Simpson is doing a skydive with her eldest daughter Carla Griffiths to raise money for research into Alzheimer’s and dementia. Pictured Cara Griffiths, Pendine resident Ann Evans and Paula Simpson . Picture Mandy Jones
Community
Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event
PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.
The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.
Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”
The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.
One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa
Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”
Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.
Community
Officials announced for 2026 Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire
THE NATIONAL EISTEDDFOD returns to Pembrokeshire in 2026, and organisers have named the officials who will steer this major cultural event over the next year and a half.
With the artistic and local committees already established, meetings to finalise competitions and adjudicators are underway to ensure the List of Competitions is ready by spring. Committee members have also been voting over the past weeks to elect key officials for the Executive Committee.
John Davies, former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, has been appointed Chair of the Executive Committee. Known for his deep connection to Pembrokeshire and extensive experience with national organisations, Davies aims to make the Eisteddfod a true community event, welcoming involvement from all corners of the region.
Tegryn Jones, Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, takes on the role of Deputy Chair (Strategy). With a strong passion for Welsh culture and language, Jones brings a wealth of experience working with local communities, visitors, and volunteers across three counties.
Deputy Chair (Culture) is Carys Ifan, Director of Canolfan Egin and a seasoned cultural organiser. Based in Llangrannog and originally from Llandudoch, Ifan has led numerous artistic and community projects across the region.
Cris Tomos, a community development veteran with over 30 years of experience, will lead the 2026 Eisteddfod Local Fund. Working with PLANED, a community development charity, Tomos has supported countless community enterprises and co-operatives in Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and Carmarthenshire.
Non Davies, recently elected as Executive Committee Secretary, brings extensive cultural management expertise as Ceredigion County Council’s Corporate Manager for Culture. Having chaired the Cardigan Local Fund Committee for the 2022 Ceredigion Eisteddfod, Davies is well-versed in managing cultural projects.
National Eisteddfod Chief Executive, Betsan Moses, said: “We’re looking forward to working with John and the team over the next few months as we prepare for the 2026 Eisteddfod.
“There’s almost a quarter of a century since the Eisteddfod was last held in Pembrokeshire, and we’re very much looking forward to returning to the area. 2026 is an important year for us as we celebrate 850 years since the first Eisteddfod was held in Cardigan Castle in 1176.
“We’re looking forward to working in a new way within a catchment area which includes parts of another two counties, which is, of course, a chance to work with local people in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire again.”
Further announcements are expected in the coming weeks, including the sale of competition prizes and opportunities to donate the Crown and the Chair.
The National Eisteddfod will be held in Llantood from August 1–8, 2026.
News
Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections
CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for local elections, following moves by two councils to shift away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system being blocked on technical grounds.
Yesterday (Nov 14), Ceredigion Council voted narrowly, with an 18 to 17 majority, in favor of adopting STV. This follows Gwynedd Council’s decision last month, where 65% of councillors backed the move. However, both councils have been prevented from implementing STV due to a requirement for a two-thirds majority under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
In recent consultations, public support for STV has been overwhelming, with over 70% in Gwynedd and 67% in Ceredigion favoring the change. Only Powys Council rejected the proposal, despite 60.5% of its respondents supporting STV. Campaigners argue that the current system deprives voters of representation, citing that over 100,000 people were denied a vote in the 2022 elections due to uncontested seats.
The Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) highlights the contrast with Scotland, where the introduction of STV for local elections in 2007 has significantly reduced uncontested seats. According to ERS Cymru, Scotland has had fewer uncontested seats in the last four elections combined than Gwynedd Council recorded alone in 2022.
Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said:
“Decisions made in council chambers affect everyone in those areas, so every vote should count. It’s absurd that councils choosing STV are blocked by a technicality, leaving them stuck with an outdated system that denies representation to thousands. The Welsh Government must act to avoid repeating the undemocratic outcomes of the last elections.”
Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to introduce STV across all councils in Wales, ensuring representation that reflects the electorate’s wishes.
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